ACCESS
E9.1* Every building must be provided with suitable access for fire-fighting purposes.
GROUND HYDRANTS
E9.2* A building in which the floor area of any storey or compartment exceeds -
a. in purpose sub-group 7A, 230m2; or
b. in any other purpose group, 900m2,
must be provided with suitably positioned and constructed ground hydrants, except -
where no piped water supply is available and a suitable and adequate alternative source of supply is provided.
E9.3 A ground hydrant must be connected to a water service pipe of at least 100mm diameter supplied from -
a. a water main vested in a local authority; or
b. a supply provided under the Fire Services Act 1947.
PROVISION OF FIRE-FIGHTING SHAFTS, FIRE-LIFTS AND FIRE MAINS
E9.4* In a building of purpose group 2-6 and purpose sub-group 7A and 7B the minimum provision of fire-fighting shafts, fire-fighting lifts, dry fire mains and wet fire mains must be as set out in the table to this standard. The number of escape stairs in fire-fighting shafts set out in the table is a minimum; if it is necessary to satisfy travel distance requirements for there to be more escape stairs then all such stairs must be in fire-fighting shafts and meet the relevant requirements in this table
except -
nothing in this standard shall require -
a. an escape stair to be in a fire-fighting shaft or to have a protected lobby with a dry fire main where the escape stair is unenclosed (e.g. from a gallery); or
b. a fire-fighting lift to serve the top storey of a building which is for service plant use only where -
i. there is access by an escape stair from the storey below, and
ii the foot of the escape stair is within 4.5m of a fire-fighting lift.
Table to E9.4 : Provision of fire-fighting shafts, fire-lifts and fire mains.
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Purpose Groups 2,3,5,6 (plus Purpose Groups 4,7A,7B where the storey has a floor area not more than 900m2) |
Purpose Groups 4,7A,7B (where the storey has a floor area greater than 900m2) |
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basement storey over 10 metres |
2 escape stairs in fire-fighting shafts each with a dry fire main, suitable pressure differential control and a fire-fighting lift (1) |
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basement storey up to 10 metres |
no provision |
2 escape stairs in fire-fighting shafts each with a dry fire main (1) |
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ground storey |
no provision |
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storeys at a height not more than 11 metres |
no provision |
1 escape stair in a fire-fighting shaft with a dry fire main |
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storeys at a height between11 - 18 metres |
where a protected lobby is required, there must be a dry fire main within a protected lobby to at least one escape stair, otherwise within the escape stair enclosure |
2 escape stairs in fire-fighting shafts each with a dry fire main (2) |
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storeys at a height between 18-60 metres |
2 escape stairs in fire-fighting shafts each with a dry fire main and a fire-fighting lift (2) |
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storeys at a height of more than 60m |
2 escape stairs in fire-fighting shafts each with a wet fire main and a fire-fighting lift (2) |
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Notes:
(1) reduces to 1 if the occupancy capacity of the storey is not more than 60.
(2) reduces to 1 if the occupancy capacity of the storey is not more than 60 or the storey has an entrance directly from the level of adjoining ground.
E9.5 The width of a fire-fighting stair must not be less than 1100mm (see E4.1-E4.3 where it also serves as an escape stair).
E9.6 Where a fire-fighting shaft is required to serve a basement storey it need not also serve the upper storeys unless they also qualify because of the height or size of the building. Similarly a fire-fighting shaft serving upper storeys need not serve a basement storey unless it qualifies in its own right. A fire-fighting stair which is also an escape stair and which serves an upper storey and a basement storey must be separated at ground storey level by a wall or screen with a fire resistance of at least 30 minutes for integrity and a fire door.
E9.7* Access to the fire-fighting stair in the fire-fighting shaft must be by way of a fire-fighting lobby which must be suitably ventilated and be of at least 5m2 floor area. The fire-fighting lobby must not have more than one doorway to the room or storey it serves.
E9.8* A fire-fighting shaft must have -
a. fire-resistance for loadbearing capacity, integrity and insulation from all sides in compliance with Table 2 to D2.1 of at least -
i. between the fire-fighting shaft and accommodation, 60 minutes,
ii. between the fire-fighting stair and the fire-fighting lobby, 30 minutes,
iii. between the fire-fighting stair or fire-fighting lobby and a lift well, 30 minutes; and
b. suitable provision for the control of smoke; and
c. a fire main; and
d. fire doors that comply with Table 2 to D2.1 and the diagram to this standard.
DIAGRAM TO E9.8: FIRE-FIGHTING SHAFTS
Diagram
E9.9* A fire-fighting lift must be of a suitable construction and must have -
a. a suitable electrical supply; and
b. a load-carrying capacity of at least 630kg at a speed enabling it to complete its full travel range in one minute; and
c. internal plan dimensions of at least 1.4m x 1.1m; and
d. power operated doors giving a clear opening width of at least 800mm and having at least 30 minutes fire resistance for integrity from outside; and
e. a suitable fire control system which -
i. enables firefighters to take overall control of the lift without interference from landing control points; and
ii. enables the lift doors to remain open when the lift is under fire control; and
iii. has a fire switch at the landing call station at ground floor level, housed in a lockfast, glass fronted box marked "FIRE SERVICE".
E9.10 A fire-fighting lift must be entered only from -
a. a fire-fighting lobby; or
b. an open access balcony or an access deck.
E9.11 A fire main must be enclosed in either -
a. a protected zone; or
b. a fire-fighting shaft; or
c. a duct enclosure which -
i. is imperforate (except for an opening for access), and
ii. has at least the same fire resistance as the fire-fighting shaft from both sides.
E9.12* A wet fire main must be -
a. of adequate diameter; and
b. accessible from a suitable ground hydrant where a fire brigade replenishing inlet is required; and
c. suitably equipped, including landing valves, pumping and stand-by power sources capable of providing the required water pressures; and
d. protected from frost.
E9.13* An inlet for a dry fire main must be -
a. within 18m of, and in sight of, a parking space for a pumping appliance; and
b. within 12.5m horizontally of the vertical main; and
c. suitably constructed and equipped, including landing valves, inlet breechings, and landing valve boxes; and
d. accessible from a suitable ground hydrant.
FIRE-FIGHTING OUTLETS
E9.14 A fire main must be provided with associated inlets and fittings, and with outlets positioned in accordance with E9.15-E9.17.
E9.15 Fire-fighting outlets must be provided so that no point on any storey is further from the outlet than -
a. one storey in height; and
b. 60 m measured along a route suitable for a hose.
E9.16 Where a building has a fire-fighting shaft, there must be an outlet from a fire main within each fire-fighting lobby other than at access level.
E9.17 Where a building has no fire-fighting shaft a fire-fighting outlet must be located within a protected lobby, or where access to an escape stair is not by way of a protected lobby, an escape stair enclosure, or on an access deck or an access balcony.
VENTING OF HEAT AND SMOKE FROM BASEMENT STOREYS
E9.18 Smoke outlets, communicating directly with the external air, must be provided from every basement storey, and if the basement storey is divided into compartments from every compartment of the basement storey, except -
a. in a building of purpose sub-groups 1B, 1C or 7C; or
b. where the floor area of the basement storey is not more than 200m2; or
c. where the basement storey is at a depth of not more than 4.5m; or
d. where windows opening direct to the external air have a total area not less than 1% of the floor area; or
e. where the basement storey or part of the basement storey is used as a strong room; or
f. where the basement storey is ventilated by a mechanical smoke and heat extraction system complying with E9.20.
E9.19 Smoke outlets must -
a. be sited at ceiling level within the room or space they serve; and
b. have an aggregate cross-sectional area of not less than 2.5% of the floor area of the room or space they serve; and
c. be evenly distributed around the perimeter of the building; and
d. discharge directly to the open air at a point at least 2m, measured horizontally, from any part of an escape route or exit, and have a sign stating SMOKE OUTLET FROM BASEMENT, DO NOT OBSTRUCT fixed adjacent to each external outlet point; and
e. where they serve a place of special fire risk be separate from the smoke outlets from other areas; and
f. discharge by means of windows, stallboard [Note 1] or pavement lights which are readily acces-sible to the Fire Brigade and which can be opened or knocked out by the Fire Brigade; and
g. where required be enclosed by a shaft of smoke tight non-combustible construction with the same period of fire resistance as that required for elements of structure in the basement storey served by the shaft. Shafts from different parts of the same basement storey, or from different basement storeys, must be separated by smoke tight non-combustible fire-resisting construction.
Note 1: A stallboard means a strong sill and its framing beneath a shop window over a vertical surface extending from the pavement to the stallboard.
E9.20* A basement storey may be ventilated by a suitable mechanical smoke and heat extraction system as an alternative to natural venting where -
a. the basement storey has a suitable sprinkler system; and
b. the air extraction system has a capacity of not less than 10 air changes per hour and is capable of operating at a temperature of at least 300°C for not less than 60 minutes. The air extraction system must come into operation automatically on the activation of the sprinkler system.
EMERGENCY ACCESS WINDOWS
E9.21* A suitably designed and located emergency access window must be provided -
a. in a dwelling, in every storey at a height of more than 4.5m but not more than 11m where the storey has only one escape route; and
b. in a building of purpose group 2, other than a hospital, in every bedroom in an upper storey at a height not more than 11m where the storey has only one escape route.
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION IN DWELLINGS
E10.1* A dwelling must be provided with a suitable fire detection and alarm system, except -
where any storey is less than 200m2 in floor area the dwelling may be provided with one or more smoke alarms suitably located on each storey.
AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION IN ENCLOSED SHOPPING CENTRES WITH MALLS
E10.2* Enclosed shopping centres with a mall on two or more storeys or having a total storey area greater than 5600 m2 must be provided with a suitable fire detection and alarm system.